Airburst delivery system

Abstract

An airburst delivery system that may provide for effective delivery of firefighting material to forest fires. The system generally utilizes an explosive charge to detonate a frangible containment vessel filled with firefighting material above the earth and typically above fire in a forest canopy. The resulting expanding sphere of water and related shockwaves provides a multi-effect interaction with the fire resulting in multiple water soakings combined with the sue of the vacuum and compression created by the shockwave to starve the fire of fuel and oxygen.

1 . An airburst delivery system for assisting in firefighting, the system comprising;
 a frangible containment vessel;   a firefighting material within said containment vessel;   a explosive charge within said firefighting material; and   a detonator for said explosive charge;   wherein said detonator triggers said explosive charge during descent of said containment vessel from an elevated position toward earth prior to said frangible containment vessel contacting the ground.   
     
     
         2 . The airburst delivery system of  claim 1  wherein said firefighting material comprises water. 
     
     
         3 . The airburst delivery system of  claim 1  wherein said detonator includes an altimeter. 
     
     
         4 . The airburst delivery system of  claim 1  wherein said detonator includes a thermal sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The airburst delivery system of  claim 1  wherein said containment vessel comprises a rubber blivet. 
     
     
         6 . The airburst delivery system of  claim 1  wherein said explosive charge comprises C-4 Plastic explosive. 
     
     
         7 . The airburst delivery system of  claim 6  wherein said explosive charge comprises an M112 demolition charge. 
     
     
         8 . The airburst delivery system of  claim 1  wherein said system is used in fighting forest fires. 
     
     
         9 . The airburst delivery system of  claim 8  wherein said detonator triggers said explosive charge above a top edge of a tree canopy. 
     
     
         10 . The airburst delivery system of  claim 8  wherein said detonator triggers said explosive charge below a top edge of a tree canopy but above the ground. 
     
     
         11 . The airburst delivery system of  claim 1  wherein said system is carried by an aircraft. 
     
     
         12 . The airburst delivery system of  claim 11  wherein said aircraft is an airplane. 
     
     
         13 . The airburst delivery system of  claim 12  wherein said system is carried within said airplane. 
     
     
         14 . The airburst delivery system of  claim 11  wherein said aircraft is a helicopter. 
     
     
         15 . The airburst delivery system of  claim 14  wherein said system is carried under said helicopter.